A higher number of people continue to try to reduce the intake of meat; the reduction of meat intake is mainly due to different reasons, as explained in this post. A good number is reducing the input to prevent animal cruelty, while others try to reduce the consumption due to health issues.
Several campaigns are playing a huge role in this reduction of meat consumption. For example, some campaigns reduce intake in certain days such as Mondays while other initiatives include vegetarians who campaign for people to opt for meat-free diets. However, it is essential to understand the factors that lead to an increase in meat intake.
Top ten meat consuming countries:
These are the ten countries with the highest intake of meat according to The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development:
1. United States
2. Australia
3. Argentina
4. Uruguay
5. Israel
6. Brazil
7. Chile
8. Canada
9. European Union
10. New Zealand
The figures on the most carnivorous countries take into consideration all types of meat from beef, sheep, pork, veal, and chicken. The calculation is per capita according to the retail weight of meat in kilograms at points of sale.
Highest meat consumers by population:
There are different classifications of people who eat more meat than others do. The first classification relates to the general wealth; richer people eat more meat, and the countries with the highest levels of wealth consume more meat. Therefore, you will note that rich countries such as the United States have higher rates of meat intake, with a total of more than 90 kilograms for each citizen annually.
In the same breath, you will note that poorer countries, such as Ethiopia, have an average of fewer than 7 kilograms for each person annually. Although these statistics are not perfectly accurate, they are very close to the general intake.
The main increase in meat consumption, however, is not determined by these countries because fast-developing countries such as China have an increasing rate of intake of meat. Therefore, they contribute to the continuous increase in consumption.
Factors leading to an increase in meat consumption:
• Increase in population
In the early 60s, the total population was low, around 3 billion in the entire world; however, the population has now increased to more than 7 billion. The total population corresponds directly with the total increase in meat consumption in the last 50 years. The total intake is more than five times as it was fifty years ago. An increase in mouths to feed leads to an increase in meat consumption.
• Higher income
Although the population continues to increase, it contributes to a smaller percentage than the ability to afford meat. Wealth is a significant contributor to higher meat consumption. The general wealth of the entire world has tripled over the past few years and people prefer to eat a more luxurious form of diet when they accumulate more wealth. In most cases, a luxury diet includes meat. Therefore, it is safe to relate the increase of consumption of meat with the higher income.
Meat intake is increasing rapidly, but everyone should take care of their health by restricting intake to healthy amounts.
